In mid-Victorian days there
were few good schools for boys south of the Clyde, yet when a brother and I
had reached the ages of seven and eight, some educational outlet had to be
found. There was, indeed, Anderson's Academy in Carlton Place, whose
principal was held in deserved repute, but it was too far off from Govan
Road, while the Glasgow Academy and High School were still more remote and
could not yet be thought of in view of the intervening river.

At this juncture a Mr. James
Thomson came on the scene, with fair credentials, and commenced a scholastic
venture at No. 16 Pollok Street, then only partially built, but notable as
the widest street in the city, which gave it the supreme advantage of
offering a convenient playground at zero cost. This was a merit which had
not escaped earlier recognition, for only a little way further up on the
same side was Scott's Academy, already well established. Thomson's
introductions secured him a successful start, many of the better families in
the neighbourhood sending their boys and girls for the same reasons which
held in our case. A number of the former in after years attained to
conspicuous positions, and one even to baronetcy after having served a term
as Lord Provost of the City. Scott and Thomson themselves ultimately
developed into useful ministers, both obtaining charges in the south-west of
Scotland.

As I have already hinted,
ours was a "mixed" school; and, as there was no infant department, we were
practically divided into two sections only—senior and junior. My brother and
I were, of course, placed in the younger division ; but as all were taught
in the same room, we naturally assimilated much of what was, in the first
instance, intended for others. A common practice, indeed, with Thomson, when
baffled in getting a correct answer from the seniors, was to turn to the
juniors and give them a chance. In grammar especially, I remember how we
often put our elders to shame. Accustomed at home to accurate constructions,
and, aided by a quick ear, we could intuitively solve a difficulty which
appeared formidable to those who were hampered by rules learned by rote, but
imperfectly understood. How we used to envy the senior class its
elocutionary feasts from M'Culloch's "Course," as we overheard with rapture
the "Address to a Mummy in Belzoni's Exhibition" or "The Burial of Sir John
Moore!" In time we too attained to these things, but for the present we had
to be content with his more prosaic "Series." M'Culloch was a real
educational benefactor when he compiled this advanced "Course," than which a
more attractive selection could hardly be imagined. A little Scottish
history, the rudiments of geography—ancient and modern—and arithmetic,
together with writing, filled up our school hours. The last was always
regarded as a relaxation, if not a recreation; partly, no doubt, because it
involved an adjournment to another room where the air was fresher and the
windows less bedimmed. I can still see the row of desks as the door was
thrown open. The copy books bore the monogram of Chambers and were bound in
dark blue. They were marked "price sixpence," though to-day they could
doubtless be produced at half that cost. The penholders scattered about were
long in shape and of all colours. A regular stampede was made to secure a
favourite shade, and, if possible, one not -too clammy in the stem, or too
much chewed at the upper end.

We had, of course, the usual
interval for play, when we were simply turned out into the street until such
time as Thomson appeared on the doorsteps and shouted, "All in, all in!" As
there was but little passing traffic, even such games as "rounders" could be
freely indulged in; but there were two others that stand out in strong
relief. The first of these was "Port the Helm," which was played by all
joining hands in line, while the ring-leader, after running forward a
certain distance, would sharply wheel round, dragging the tail after him. It
followed that those near the circumference, having to run further and faster
than those nearer the pivot, suffered severe wrenches even when they escaped
being thrown on the ground to the damage of their clothing and the bruising
of their shins. The other pastime was fraught with even greater excitement,
and would delight the heart of a modern "Scout." The lower portion of Pollok
Street abounded in entries, which not only led to lofty flights of stairs,
but to sundry washing houses and back greens. The upper end of the street
was then being built and tempting scaffoldings and plankings lay plentifully
to hand, conducting to subterranean structures commonly known as "dunnies."
We accordingly divided into two bands, one being given a certain start of
the other. The object of the "hares" was to get safely back to cover of the
school porch without being caught. For this purpose they scattered widely to
the least accessible places, from which there was usually an alternative
retreat. Risk of capture was by no means confined to the "hounds," for
sometimes irascible householders would lie in ambush when they heard an
unusual scuffle on their landing; at other times the masons might
arbitrarily withdraw their gangways; and the "bobby" had always to be
reckoned with. The broad pavements of Pollok Street also lent them- selves
excellently well to peg tops and marbles. A large church was being erected
just opposite the school as the most westerly outpost of Voluntaryism, and I
think we regarded its unusual architecture with some suspicion, perhaps even
doubting the orthodoxy of intending worshippers!

Only once do I remember
getting a special holiday. It was on the occasion of Thomson's wedding. The
fact was doubly impressed upon us by his appearing next morning resplendent
in a brand new silk hat!

Towards the close of the
session, he gave as a task to his senior division a short poem on the
approaching holidays. Again, we juniors greatly envied such rare fun and
were fain to send in competitive rhymes. My own attempt is before me now. At
the close of the session I find I was awarded a prize "for general
excellence " in the shape of Bishop Russell's volume on Palestine, then
recently published and fairly stiff reading for a boy of nine! I am not sure
that anything beyond the pictures was seriously examined until fifty years
later in connection with an actual visit to the Holy Land. I still possess a
roughly coloured map of Palestine, drawn as an exercise, which may possibly
have suggested the form of the prize!

I don't think Thomson's
Academy continued in existence for more than two or three years. Probably it
was only a pot-boiler to help his own college course. At any rate when a
younger brother was of proper age, another school had to be chosen for him.
Such a one had just been opened in Kingston Place by a venerable dominie
with a varied and honourable record behind him. He had suffered at the hands
of provincial school managers on account of conscientious adherence to the
Free Church, and always wore an antique white neckcloth wonderfully swathed
into a front knot. He was learned and good, but lacked any touch of
modernity. Unfortunately pupils were hard to find and rumour had it that his
own son had to begin Latin afresh with each new comer so as to form a class
quorum. By this happy arrangement a boy seldom found himself lower than
second dux, which suited admirably. Yet in this small band there lurked
incognito, under the sobriquet of "Coal Bunker," a gently nurtured spirit
whose misdirected conscientiousness was destined to thrust him into
unpleasing prominence in the great ecclesiastical upheaval of 1900; together
with at least one other who made a name for himself in the larger world.

Of girls' schools the Misses
Barlas in Maxwelton Place and the Misses Davidson (afterwards Mrs. Cross) in
Kinning Place were held in high esteem for their painstaking tuition, while
lesser lights, here and there, specialised in music and other subjects.

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